Simulating the Schrödinger Equation

From: Saibal Mitra <smitra.domain.name.hidden>
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 15:23:22 +0200

We get an interesting paradox if we try to simulate the time evolution according to the schrödinger equation on a classical machine. Consider simulating an observer measuring the z-component of a spin in the state:

a ¦up> + b ¦down>,

where ¦a¦ is not equal to ¦b¦.

The classical computer will end up simulating the states of the observer having measured spin up and spin down. The probability for the observer in any of these states is 1/2 irrespective of a and b.

Therefore from the first person's perspective the laws of quantum mechanics are violated.

Saibal
Received on Tue Oct 23 2001 - 06:27:09 PDT